EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE E-FILED

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Third Regular Session
8:25 a.m.

Senate Bill No. 2484

(In substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 887 and 1350)

Prepared by the Committees on Science and Technology; Civil Service, Government

Reorganization and Professional Regulation; and Finance with Senators Revilia, Binay and
Angara as authors thereof

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CENTER INTO THE PROVINCIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
OFFICE IN EVERY PROVINCE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

1 SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Provincial Science
2 and Technology Office Act. ”
3 SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy and duty of the State to fast track
4 the transfer of relevant and appropriate technologies and services to the rural areas
5 particularly in the enhancement and development of technology-based livelihood
6 enterprises in the countryside.
7 SEC. 3. Provincial Science and Technology Offices (PSTOs). - The Provincial
8 Science and Technology Centers (PSTCs) of the Department of Science and
9 Technology (DOST) which are the principal instruments of technology transfer and
10 development of technology-based enterprises of the government in the rural areas are
11 converted into Provincial Science and Technology Offices (PSTOs): Provided, that the
12 existing clustered area offices of the DOST in the National Capital Region (NCR) shall
13 also serve as PSTO to be known as Clustered Area Science and Technology Offices
14 (CASTOs), subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and
15 Management (DBM) and existing civil service rules and regulations.
 1 SEC. 4. Functions of the PSTOs. - The PSTOs shall have the following
2 functions:
3 a) Identify the needs and opportunities in science and technology (S&T) in the
4 provinces:
5 b) Implement DOST programs and projects on technology promotion and transfer,
6 S&T human resource development, S&T promotion and information
7 dissemination, delivery of technical and consultancy services, and such other
8 areas of concern that will benefit the people in the provinces;
9 c) Develop institutional linkages with provincial offices of other departments local
10 government units, academe and non-governmental offices for the effective
11 implementation of science and technology programs in the provinces: and
12 d) Perform other functions as may be determined by the DOST Secretary and the
13 Regional Director.
14 SEC. 5. PSTO Head. - The PSTO shall be headed by a Chief Science
15 Research Specialist with salary grade (SG) 24. For this purpose, the existing position
16 of Senior Science Research Specialist with SG 19 which is currently held by the head
17 of the PSTCs shall be reclassified as Chief Science Research Specialist.
18 SEC. 6. Duties and Responsibilities of the PSTO Head. - The PSTO Head shall
19 have the following duties and responsibilities:
20 a. Formulate the Provincial S&T Plan as well as programs and projects designed
21 to contribute to the development of the province / clustered area;
22 b. Implement and monitor the various technology promotion and
23 commercialization programs such as but not limited to the Small Enterprise
24 Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) and the Community Empowerment
25 through Science and Technology (CEST):
26 c. Promote the adoption of appropriate technologies by micro, small and medium
27 enterprises (MSMEs) to improve their operational efficiency and increase
28 productivity as well as to harness the results of scientific research and
29 innovations to produce new and competitive products and services;
30 d. Disseminate S&T-related information and Research and Development (R&D)
31 results through the conduct of trainings, technology fora and similar activities:
32 e. Maintain effective liaison with public and private academic institutions and other
33 government agencies engaged in scientific and technological research,
34 technology transfer and commercialization, education, and training:

2
 1 f. Coordinate with local government units and academic institutions for the
2 promotion of scholarship programs aimed to attract science-oriented students
3 to pursue basic and applied sciences to broaden the S&T human resource in
4 the province / clustered area;
5 g. Coordinate with public and private organizations in the implementation of
6 human resource and institutional development programs in the province /
7 clustered area;
8 h. Promote science consciousness and appreciation among the people of the
9 province /clustered area;
10 i. Serve as focal person for science and technology inter-agency meetings,
11 conferences, and similar activities in the province / clustered area;
12 j. Perform over-all supervision of services and operations of the PSTO;
13 k. Ensure that appropriate quality management systems are properly
14 implemented and maintained in accordance with international standards in all
15 aspects of operations of the PSTO; and
16 I. Perform other related functions as may be assigned by higher authorities from
17 time to time.
18 SEC 7. Staffing Pattern. - The Secretary of DOST shall determine the
19 organizational structure and staffing pattern of the PSTO in accordance with civil
20 service laws, rules, and regulations, subject to the review and approval of the DBM.
21 SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The initial amount for the implementation of this Act
22 shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the DOST. Thereafter,
23 such amount shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.
24 SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOST, in consultation with
25 concerned agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and
26 regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days from effectivity of this Act.
27 SEC. 10. Separabiiity Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held
28 unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in
29 full force and effect.
30 SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, or parts thereof which are inconsistent
31 with this Act, are hereby amended, repealed, or modified accordingly.
32 SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
33 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,